Non-inflammable cellulose compound and method of making same.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GODSON LINDSAY, .OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A SSIGNOR TO THE CELLULOIDCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

,NON-INFLAMMABLE CELLULOSE COMPOUND AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

No Drawing.

.sition of matter which is non-inflammable,

and which possesses permanently great strength and tenacity, and can beused as a substitute for nitro-cellulose compositions such as'celluloidand similar substances, and also to the process of making the same.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to substitute acetyl cellulose fornitrocellulose for the purpose of obtaining a less inflammable materialhaving the properties of celluloid,

but so far as I am aware such compounds have been unsuccessful.

I have discovered that triphenylphosphate can be combined with acetylcellulose to produce a non-inflammable compoundhaving great strength andtenacity, and other valuable properties, and the present invention isdesigned to point out to the operator a. practical method of using orcombining these two substances in making films and other forms of suchcompounds. So far as I know, I am the first to successfully usetriphenylphosphate with acetyl cellulose, and also the first to discoverthe method of making a useful product or compound containing acetylcellulose and triphenylphosphate.

In carrying out my invention I dissolve an acetylcellulose in a solventwhich is also ;a solvent of triphenylphosphate and to this solution isadded triphenylphosphate, either acetylcellulose which is soluble inacetone.

The amount of triphenylphosphate may be varied in proportions from tento twenty parts by weight to each one hundred parts of the acetylcellulose, and the acetone or other suitable solvent is added insuflicient Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 5, 1909.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913. Serial No. 494,178.

quantity to make either a flowable solution or a plastic mass, as iswell understood by those skilled in the art; but I do not limit myselfto any specific proportions because they may be diminished or increasedas desired. The resulting mixture is suitably manipulated to permit aportion of the solvent to evaporate, whereby a certain portion of thesolvent employed will be evaporated according to the length of time ofthe ma nipulation, the temperature employed, and other conditions, as iswell understood in the art. In the example given above, showing the useof acetone as a part of the solvent, a certain portion of the acetoneevaporates, as well as certain proportions of such other solvents whichmay be employed.

The degree of strength and tenacity of the product will depend upon thevariety of acetyl cellulose employed in solution or in combination ormixture as the basic ingredient; but the addition of triphenylphosphateincreases both the strength and tenacity and also insuresnon-inflammability. I may use other menstrua or solvents than acetone,such for instance as chloroform, ethyl acetate or acetylenetetrachlorid, which, either alone or when two or more of them are mixedtogether, are capable of. dissolving the acetyl cellulose in thepresence of triphenylphosphate.

As indicated above, the solvent or menstruum may be formedof one or moresubstances in addition to, or in substitution of, acetone; in fact, anyone or more of the solvents or menstrua of an acetyl cellulose, orsimilar cellulose compositions, may be employed, provided the solvent isalso a solvent of the triphenylphosphate or other substance used inplace thereof. A further advantage in employing these solvent ormenstrua substances in the case of some of the heavy solvents arisesfrom their property of restraining or modifying the volatility of themixture; acetylene tetrachlorid, when used alone, or with chloroform,alcohol, ethyl acetate or the like, in varying proportions, isespecially useful in this connection. The addition of 1%% urea willinsure permanency of strength and tenacity to the compound. Theproportion of urea or equivalent substance will vary according to thedesired degree of stability of final product. A proportion of two partsurea to one hundred parts of the cellulose compound gives most excellentresults; a less proportion is sufficient for ordinary purposes. I haveobtained satisfactory results with a proportion of urea as low as onepart to one hundred parts of the cellulose compound.

For certain purposes, it is advantageous to make a thorough mechanicalmixture containing the I acetyl cellulose and triphenylphosphate, orequivalent substances, and subsequently add the solventor liquidmenstruum.

The product made in accordance with my invention can be made in the formof films or thin sheets. Any approved method of forming films or thinsheets from a fiowable solution may be employed. It will be understood,also, that the floavable solution formed as above described may beapplied as a protecting surface, such a coating possessing also theproperty'of being Waterproof. The final product may also be made in theform of a mass of any desired thickness. It will be obvious thatsuitable pigments or coloring matter may be added to the above mixtureor solution to produce a final product for use in imitating other substances, such as amber, ivory, horn, marble, or the like.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as'newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A composition 'of matter acetyl cellulose and triphenylphosphate'inadmixture with a solvent common to both,

substantially as described.

2. A composition of matter containing acetyl cellulose andtriphenylphosphate in admixture with acetone.

3. A composition of matter containing an acetyl cellulose andtriphenylphosphate in admixture with acetylene tetrachlorid and acetone.

4. A composition of matter containing one hundred parts of acetylcellulose and from ten to twenty parts of triphenylphosphate inadmixture with acetylene tetrachlorid and acetone.

5. A composition of matter containing one hundred parts ofacetylcellulose, from containing I ten to twenty parts triphenylphosphate,from one to two parts urea, acetylenetetrachlorid and acetone.

6. A composition of matter containing an acetyl cellulose. compound .incombination with triphenylphosphate, and a substance for insuringpermanency of strength and tenacity.

- 7 A composition of matter containing an acetyl cellulose compound,triphenylphosphate and urea. v

8. A composition of matter containing an acetyl cellulose compound,triphenylphosphate, urea and acetone.

9. The process of making a non-inflammable composition of matterconsisting in combining 100 parts of acetyl cellulose and from 10 to 20parts of triphenylphosphate by the use of a solvent common to both.

10. The process of making a non-inflammable composition of matterconsisting in combining an acetyl cellulose and triphenylphosphate bythe use of a solvent composed of a mixture of acetylene-tetrachlorid andacetone.

11. The process of making a non-inflammable composition of matter, whichconsists in combining acetyl cellulose and triphenylphosphate by the useof a solvent common to both.

12. The process of making a non-inflammable composition of matter, whichcon- ,sists in combining an acetyl cellulose and triphenylphosphate bythe use "of acetone.

13. The process of making a non-inflammable composition of matter, whichconsists in combining an acetyl cellulose and triphenylphosphate' by theuse of a solvent common to both and adding urea.

14. A composition of matter containing an acetyl cellulose not freelysoluble in acetone alone, and triphenylphosphate dis solved in a mixturecontaining acetylene tetrachlorid and acetone.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GOD SON LINDSAY.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. LUCKE, Gno'. N. KERR.

